299 Landsbridge Street
Bolton, Ontario
L7E 2K4
Phone (905) 951-8788
Fax (905) 951-8798
APRIL 2015
An Easter Prayer for Children
Principal: K. Barton
Vice Principal: F. Troiani
Secretaries: L. Grant and
Jesus, you have overcome death
And conquered every fear I could imagine
Help me to live each day remembering that
G. Odoardi
SERVING OUR
You are alive
That You are bigger than anything or any situation
And that Your power is real
Jesus, you're my hero and I'm walking with you.
COMMUNITY
SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
L. Storey
Amen.
905-890-1221
TRUSTEE
F. DiCosola
905-951-8898
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH
Rev. L. Leger and Fr. D.
Gikonyo
905-857-1938
ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Chair: M. Cardinale
905-951-8788
Please visit our website
at:
www.dpcdsb.org/JBAPT
FOLLOW US ON
TWITTER
@JBAPT_DPCDSB
Lenten Season
Our Liturgical Season of Lent is well underway and continues until Easter weekend (April 3-6).
During our six week Lenten journey we recognize and discuss with our students our human
frailties which cause us to sin. We prepare for the coming of Easter through reflection, prayer,
and charity. We respond to Jesus’ call for a change of heart by becoming stronger in our will
to say “yes” to God and “no” to our selfishness. We look forward to our Lenten journey together, a strengthened and renewed faith in God’s will.
This month we celebrate the Virtue of Love
A Loving Person:

Wants the best for others

Is willing to make sacrifices for the good of others

Learns from the heroic lives of saints and holy people

Knows that we are all lovable

Prays for others
THE NEXT VIRTUE ASSEMBLY WILL BE ON THURSDAY APRIL 30TH AT 1:35 P.M.
Page 2
Page 2
CHANGES TO SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The Archdiocese of Toronto has notified all Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District Schools that the elementary school grade
for candidates for confirmation is to be moved from Grade
8 to Grade 7, effective September 8 2015, in terms of sacramental preparation. More information to follow in the
new school year.
ATTENTION JUNIOR BOYS AND GIRLS!!!
Summer Programs 2015
Registrations will be available soon for 2015 SKgrade 6 Summer Literacy Camp and for the
Intermediate Numeracy/Literacy Program.
If you have any questions regarding these programs, please contact your child’s classroom
teacher.
EQAO Grade 3 and Grade 6 Testing
St. John the Baptist will be hosting a Girls Night In and Boys
Night In on two separate dates. All girls and boys from
grades 4-6 are invited to attend an evening of prayer, activities, engaging speakers and plenty of FUN!! More information will be sent home shortly.
RECESS REMINDERS
We continue to reinforce the need for students to play
games and activities safely at our school. At St. John the
Baptist, we have a hands-off policy. This means that activities such as contact sports, tackling, play fighting, tripping, pushing, piling on and any rough play are not permitted. Students are consistently reminded of these rules by
staff, supervisors and administration. We recommend that
parents have focused conversations with their children about
the types of games they play at school. We need your help
to reinforce with them the dangers and consequences of
rough play and the importance of notifying staff on duty during recess time. The health and safety of
our students is always a priority here at
St. John the Baptist school.
The EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) testing of our Grade 3 and 6 students is rapidly
approaching. The test dates run between May 25 June 5. Please try to avoid scheduling any doctor’s
appointments or anything else that will take your
child out of school during the testing
dates.
JUNIOR SPEECH WINNERS!!!
On March 11, selected students were sent to the gym to
share their speeches in front of an audience of students,
teachers, parents, and judges. All students did an outstanding job! A special congratulations to our top three students;
First - Damian M. Grade 6
Second - Sebastian L. Grade 5
Third - Amanda R. Grade 4
WARMER WEATHER IS ALMOST HERE !
With the warm weather soon approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to review our dress code expectations. Students are to observe the guidelines
which follow. Summer clothing at home is not always appropriate at school in a Catholic Learning environment. These guidelines may vary somewhat for primary
students, as appropriate. If students have any questions, they may seek guidance from Mrs. Barton or Mr. Troiani at an appropriate time.

Students should come to school wearing sunscreen and have a hat for recess

Wear shorts of an appropriate length (bottom of shorts should not go above the child’s fingertips when arms are at their sides)

No revealing tops

T –shirts are a good idea for protection from the sun

No midriff showing

Opaque tights can be worn under shorter skirts or shorts

Boys shorts/pants need to be at the waist and underwear should not be seen

Water bottles (recyclable preferred) can be kept in the classroom for students to refill and drink during the day
Page 3
Catholic Education
Week
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was talking to us on the road?”
– Luke 24:32
Catholic schools are Catholic communities. Catholic schools are faith communities. We – parents, students, teachers, administrative and support staff – walk and grow together in the faith which we received at our Baptism. And
it is ‘together’ that we grow. Our growth is primarily a relationship with God, who at our Baptism, called us by
name. But the response of each of us to that growth is both personal and communal. We grow in our faith in the
nurturing atmosphere of our Catholic community be that of our local parish, our home, or our Catholic school
community.
Our school community will celebrate Catholic Education Week 2015 in ways that are appropriate to our students’
age. There are five sub-themes for each day of Catholic Education Week:
Monday – Walking Together and Sharing Our Stories
Tuesday – Opening the Scriptures
Wednesday – Welcoming Others to the Table
Thursday – Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread
Friday – Proclaiming the Good News
Every year, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association (OCSTA) provides our Catholic schools with a resource kit to help schools prepare for Catholic Education Week. Using these resources as well as our own developed activities we have prepared a series of activities which will highlight how our school is ‘Exploring Paths of Joy’.
A school flyer will be sent home soon with details of our St. John the Baptist Catholic
School 2014 plans for Catholic Education Week.
STUDENTS GOING OUT FOR LUNCH
Please be advised, the school does not encourage
students to leave school property during the lunch
hour, to go out for lunch with friends. Students that
are walking to local restaurants and fast food places
incur the safety risks due to busy traffic and no adult
supervision. Should you still wish for your child to go
out for lunch a written note must be provided to the
office in the morning. No verbal permission will
be allowed. Ministry expectations are that students
should be on time for school, if there is an issue with
students returning late from lunch, they will not be
allowed to go out for lunch without a parent picking
them up and signing them out.
WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN
Our Welcome to Kindergarten session is scheduled for Thursday, April 23 at 6:00—7:00 p.m.
This session is intended for parents / caregivers and
their pre-kindergarten children ( parents/caregivers
and their children who will be attending full day
kindergarten in September 2015). This initiative will
provide pre-school children and their families with
the resources and experiences to support early learning and a
smooth transition to formal education. Invitations will be mailed to
families who have registered a child for full day kindergarten in September 2015.
Page 4
Text Messaging and Your Child....Did you know???




That the majority of bullying issues are related to the
inappropriate use of social media.
That teachers in the intermediate grades are frustrated by the class time lost while addressing the student’s
inappropriate use of cell phones and iPods.
That many parents respond to their child’s texts while
the child is in class.
At St. John the Baptist and all elementary schools in
Dufferin-Peel, it is against the school code of conduct
to use personal electronic devices during the school day
(including recess and lunch). Also, electronic devices are NOT to be used on school property at the end of the school day. This had become an issue outside near the intermediate exit doors at 3:15 p.m. where many students are texting one another while on school
property. Students have been constantly reminded by teachers on supervision that this
is not permitted.
Texting is becoming the #1 form of communication:
If you’ve ever stared in awe at your child’s thumbs moving furiously over his/her phone’s keyboard, you’ve probably wondered how your child does it so quickly, and why it’s their favorite
form of communication. Kids text because it lets them feel connected and feel as if they can
have a private moment with a friend, no matter where they are or what else they’re doing.
Billions of text messages are sent every year from our kids’ mobile phones. While most kids
use messaging responsibly, it’s still a powerful and extremely private communication tool that
can be used irresponsibly. With texting, kids can’t see the reaction of the person receiving the
message, so their actions can be separated from the consequences. Young people can be cruel,
and their judgment and impulse control are not yet fully developed. If a text exchange becomes unpleasant, it can be very hurtful or even dangerous to their well being.
Page 5
Advice for parents:
 Carefully evaluate whether or not your kids need texting on their cell phones. Just because other kids in their class have it doesn’t mean your child needs it.
 Make rules around when and where. No texting during meals, during school, on family outings. Oh, and turn the phone OFF at night!
 No texting while they should be concentrating on something else. This includes walking
and having a conversation with someone else. Students often don’t see cars and dangerous situations that are happening. Firm rules about this will ensure their safety as well as their social
skills.
 Never post confidential information. Children may want to share when they are away on
vacation. This can put your family home and valuables at risk of robbery.
 Establish consequences for misuse. Cheating, inappropriate messages, sexual communication. These are all no-go’s. Want to make your point? Take your kid’s phone away for a week.
 Watch your own behavior. Parents are still models for their kids. If you text your child
during class and then turn around and tell that child that he or she can’t do that, you’re sending mixed signals.
Please check your child’s texts and computer social sites frequently. You are the parent and responsible for ensuring that
they are behaving appropriately in the real world and in the
electronic, cyber world. Thank you.
Adapted from: www.commonsensemedia.org
St. John the Baptist invites you to…
Money Mentor$ – Workshop for Parents
Information, strategies, tips and tools to help parents support kids
as they learn about money, its value and how to manage it well.
PARENTS WILL LEARN…
Going Beyond ‘Needs’ and ‘Wants’: Parents
will see real-life examples of how they can easily teach
more complex money management concepts:
Goal setting, saving and how interest works
Smart spending and getting value for money
Budgeting
Borrowing & Credit Cards [including Card Marketing Practices]
St. John the Baptist
299 Landsbridge St. Bolton L7E
2K4
[905] 951.8788
*Please RSVP*
Wednesday, April 15th, 2015
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
In the library
Frequently Asked Questions: Parents will get
answers to the money-related questions kids ask most
often:
Which bank has best account for young people?
What is interest and how much will I get on my
savings?
What happens if I borrow money and miss a payment or don’t pay it back at all?
Presented by
Tricia Barry, Executive Director
www.moneyschoolcanada.com
Where to Start: Money School Canada’s proprietary research will be shared. Parents will gain valuable
insight into where to start, what young people already
know about money, which concepts they find difficult
and how parents can help.
Money Lessons @ Home: Valuable tips and insights into practical, easy ways parents can teach at
home to help develop the money smarts young people
need to be successful.
Money School Canada Student Impressions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ouvwzeJ0c
Quoted in Gordon Pape’s Money Savvy Kids:
The Best Ways to Teach Your Children
about Money for a Strong Financial Future,
Penguin, 2013.
Money School Canada on BNN with Andy
Bell
http://watch.bnn.ca/#clip529561
Parent Talk: Tricia Barry on Kids & Money
http://whereparentstalk.com
Money School Canada.Toronto. 416.932.1300.
tricia.barry@moneyschoolcanada.com
News Release
FROM THE DESK OF INSPECTOR TIM MELANSON
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Although we have become accustomed to seeing buses circulating in the Town of Caledon since last fall, drivers can become distracted and complacent. It is important to take extra precautionary measures when sharing the road with a school bus. Please be mindful of school bus safety always.
It is dangerous to pass a school bus that has its upper red lights flashing and has stopped to let children on or off. It is also against the law – unless
you are coming from the other direction on a road with a median. Make sure you know the rules and help keep our school children safe.
Drivers: Know the Rules
When driving on a road WITHOUT a median
Drivers travelling in both directions must stop for a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing
When you approach the bus from the front, stop at a safe distance to let children get on or off the school bus and cross the road
Don’t move forward until the red lights have stopped flashing or the bus begins to move.
When driving on a road WITH a median
Traffic coming from the opposite direction is not required to stop.
FINES;
Drivers can be charged if they pass a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing:
First offence: $400 to $2000 and 6 demerit points.
Second offence: $1000 to $4000, 6 demerit points and possible jail time (up to 6 months).
Vehicle owners can be charged if their vehicle illegally passes a stopped school bus, even if they weren’t driving.
Report drivers that don’t stop
You can report a vehicle that doesn’t stop properly for a school bus to police immediately by calling 911.
Record the date and time of the incident.
The vehicle’s make, model, colour and licence number
Who was driving?
Was the bus a “chrome yellow” school bus with the words “School Bus” at the front and rear of the bus?
Was it a small or large school bus?
Was the school bus stopped?
Were the upper red lights of the school bus flashing while it was stopped?
Were the passengers boarding or leaving the school bus?
Did the vehicle pass the school bus from behind or was it coming toward the bus in the opposite lane?
The Caledon Detachment continues to work closely with school bus operators and their drivers to ensure the safety of the ridership.
For more information, refer to Ministry of Transportation website www.mto.gov.on.ca
Contact: A/Sgt. Brenda Evans Community Service Officer / Media Relations Officer Caledon OPP— 905 584 2241 / 647 389 8300
April 2015
Page 8
STATIONS OF THE CROSS and EASTER MASS
Join us on Thursday, April 2 as our Grade 5 students present the Stations of the
Cross.
11:00 — 11:45am grades 5-8
1:00 — 1:45pm grades 1-4
Join us for our Easter Mass on;
Thursday, April 23, 2015
At 9:00 and 10:20
EASTER WEEKEND
School Council
Next Meeting:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 at 6:30pm.
Followed by the
MONEY MENTOR WORKSHOP
at 7:00pm for parents.
Communication between home and
school is greatly enhanced by parental involvement with the Catholic School Council. All parents/guardians are encouraged
to come out to meetings and participate.
A reminder that there will be no
school for students and teachers
on;
Good Friday - April 3, 2015
and
Easter Monday - April 6, 2015
HAPPY EASTER
FROM ALL OF US AT
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
APRIL 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 Hot Lunch
2 Stations of the
Cross
3 GOOD FRIDAY
4
11-11:45 gr. 5-8
NO SCHOOL
1-1:45 gr. 1-4
5 EASTER
6 EASTER
MONDAY
7
8
9
10
11
14 STS Donnelly/Zeni 1:00pm
15 Parent Council/Money Mentor
workshop at 6:30
16
17
18
23 Easter Mass at 24
9 and 10:20am
25
NO SCHOOL
12
13 Pizza Day
Swim to Survive
(STS)
Hot Lunch
O’Donnell 10:30
19
20 Inter. Immunizations
21 STS Donnelly/Zeni 1:00
STS O’Donnell
10:30
22 Earth Day
Gr. 8’s at L.B. Theatre
Welcome to
Kinder 6:00pm
Pizza Day
26
27 Pizza Day
28 Rosary
29 Hot Lunch
STS O’Donnell
STS Donn/Zeni
30 Virtue Assembly @ 1:35
MAY 2015
Sun
3
Mon
4 Pizza Day
Tue
5 Talent Show
Wed
6 Sheridan College Trip: Mrs.
Ough/Mrs.
Modugno
Thu
7 JK/SK Dental
Screening
Fri
Sat
1
2
8 I Can Make a
9
Difference Assembly
Eco-fair in p.m.
Talent Show
10 Happy Mother’s Day
11 P.A Day
17
18 Victoria Day
12
14
15
16
20
21
22 Virtues Assembly at 1:35
23
26 Parent Council 27
Meeting at 7pm
28
29
30
NO SCHOOL
13 Hot Lunch
(last one of the
year)
19
NO SCHOOL
24 EQAO
WEEK BEGINS
25 Pizza Day